Florida Cancer Center of Excellence designation renewed

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2018) – The University of Florida Health Cancer Center, including the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, has once again been recognized as a Cancer Center of Excellence by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Department of Health.

The UF Health Cancer Center is one of four centers in the state to receive this designation. The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is the only Cancer Center of Excellence in Jacksonville that treats patients with proton therapy – an advanced form of radiation therapy.

“More than an honor, the Cancer Center of Excellence designation is an important assurance for patients and their families seeking the best possible cancer treatment,” said Stuart Klein, the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute executive director. “Each of our 165 staff members is committed to serving patients with high-quality, compassionate care every day.”

The Cancer Center of Excellence designation was created by the Florida Legislature in 2013 to recognize exemplary patient-centered coordinated care and to help Florida providers be recognized nationally as a preferred destination for quality cancer care — while simultaneously attracting and retaining the best cancer providers in the state, according to the Florida Department of Health website.

The three-year designation is awarded to hospitals and treatment centers that meet strict performance standards in three areas: health care organization, health care team members, and patients and family members. Scores are based on rating standards created by a joint committee of members from the Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council and the Biomedical Research Advisory Council, two advisory groups mandated by the Florida Legislature.

The UF Health Cancer Center is the only Cancer Center of Excellence in North Central Florida. The designation includes Cancer Center partners, the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville and the Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center.

Receiving this designation once again is testament to the UF Health Cancer Center’s dedication to innovative and collaborative patient-centered care, said Jonathan Licht, M.D., the director of the UF Health Cancer Center.

“We continue to strive toward excellence in our mission to save lives and to provide the highest level of care across the cancer spectrum,” said Licht.

About UF Health Proton Therapy Institute

UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization affiliated with the UF College of Medicine and the UF Health Cancer Center, a Florida Cancer Center of Excellence, dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art cancer treatment and setting new standards for treating and curing cancer. It is an accredited radiation oncology facility by the American College of Radiology. The cancer treatment facility houses both conventional radiation and proton therapy, and delivers proton therapy to 100 patients a day. For more information about the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, please visit www.floridaproton.org, or call toll-free 877-426-9790.